In order to more systematically develop German-ASEAN science and technology cooperation and to specifically enhance synergies and networking between the Germany-related institutions and groups in South East Asia, GAST Network was founded on November 16, 2009 in Singapore. The founding members were Prof. Dr.-Ing. R. H. Jansen RWTH University former Director of Thai-German Grad. School of Engnrg.(TGGS), Bangkok,Dr. M Wächter, Managing Director GIST Singapore (TUM Asia) and Prof. Dr. P Pscheid former President of the Swiss-German University(SGV). Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf H. Jansen (RWTH Aachen), was elected as the Speaker of the GAST Network.
In a meeting on August 16, 2010, in HCM City, Vietnam, Prof. W. Rieck, VGU Founding President, and Prof. Jansen discussed the opportunities of collaboration under the umbrella of the GAST network. On the same day, VGU, the Vietnamese-German University, also joined the network by signing the GAST MoU.
Following similar negotiations with Prof. A. Hunger, University of Duisburg-Essen, the UKM Mercator Office, Malaysia, also joined the network, on October 18, 2010, by signing the GAST MoU. With this addition, the core network of GAST consisted of 5 SEA countries /member institutions of with German background.
The memorandum of understanding by which the GAST network was originally set up with a focus on academic cooperation (today focussing more on R&D and industry cooperation) is shown below.
